No gameshow, but there’s lots at stake

SITTING upright in the Mahon corruption probe’s witness box staring intently at a flat screen monitor while questions were fired at him, it looked for all the world as if the Taoiseach was a contestant on some twisted edition of Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

And no-nonsense tribunal counsel Des O’Neill would make a fitting ringmaster for such a television spectacular.

“Now Taoiseach, which finance minister had a spate of large and unusual cash lodgments turning up in various accounts during 1994? Was it a) Bertie Ahern, b) Bertie Ahern, c) Bertie Ahern, or d) Bertie Ahern?” he might inquire.